Okay... I've Gone Through Weight Loss Surgery, Now What Do I Do?!

The support you need to be successful with weight-loss surgery

If you're considering weight-loss surgery, or have already had it, you're probably filled with expectations, concerns--and a million questions. Author Melissa deBin-Parish knows what you're going through. She and her husband, Dan, lost a combined 300 pounds after their surgeries in 2003. Melissa went from a size 24 to a size 4, dramatically improved her life, and started her own support group to help other patients find the same success. Today, her website is one of the most popular and informed support groups available for patients. And now, with this comprehensive guide, she's combined the firsthand experiences of other weight-loss surgery patients with the latest medical information to help you:

• Decide if surgery is right for you
• Choose the best surgeon and procedure
• Overcome “emotional eating”
• Get the support you need
• And keep the weight off for life!

You'll also find invaluable insider's tips, delicious recipes, and journal pages to make your journey positive, successful, and rewarding. And, with the right guidance, you'll see just how wonderful it can be to transform your body, your health, your attitude, and your life.

• Very Berry Smoothie
• Seared Tuna and White Bean Salad
• Chicken and Roasted Vegetable Quesadillas
• Pork Tenderloin with Cherry Sauce
• Berry Cheese Blintzes

At 278 pounds, Susan Maria Leach couldn't lie in bed without gasping for air, wasn't able to fit into a restaurant booth, and could barely buckle the belt on an airplane seat. In 2001 she resolved to take back control and underwent gastric bypass surgery—cutting her weight in half and beginning a journey that would change her life forever.

At once an eye-opening memoir, a self-help guide, and a cookbook filled with delicious, healthy recipes, Before & After is Susan's inspiring personal account of her remarkable transformation as well as an indispensable handbook for anyone who has already undergone or is considering the procedure. This newly revised and updated edition includes a wealth of important new material, including:

• A Q&A section, featuring answers to frequently asked questions—essential advice from someone who has experienced more than a decade of post-bariatric-surgery lifestyle changes.
• Revised nutrition discussions based on the real and very serious deficiencies faced by a many bariatric patients.
• Menus and meal plans containing new products and recipes.

Weight-loss surgery may not be the answer for everyone. But reading Susan Leach's personal story, and sharing her ups and downs and her tips and techniques, will provide inspiration, motivation, and hope for anyone with a serious weight problem.

Weight Loss Surgery Cookbook For Dummies is a book about food and maintenance: what foods to buy, how to prepare them, and how to enjoy a nutritious post-surgery diet. It helps you solidify new eating habits and enjoy some new recipes, as well as better understand nutrition and your food intake so that you can maintain your weight long after surgery.

• Features simple, delicious meals that conform to post-weight loss surgery requirements
• Offers easy-to-prepare recipes that are high in flavor and low in fat and calories, that you can eat immediately after your surgery and beyond

Sixty percent of individuals over the age of 20—or 58 million people in the U.S.—are overweight. As the obesity epidemic continues to grow, many Americans are researching the benefits and complications of weight-loss surgeries. Weight Loss Surgery For Dummies, 2nd edition is the most up-to-date and authoritative guide to understanding the impact of surgical weight-loss before, during, and after surgery.

Weight-loss surgery is often an overweight person's last resort, and it comes with many risks, questions, and fears. So how do you know if it's right for you? Weight Loss Surgery For Dummies gives you expert guidance on knowing whether you qualify for the procedures, advice on choosing the best center and doctor, and trusted information on evaluating the risks involved. Plus, it helps you plan to finance the procedure, prepare for surgery, and achieve the best results as you adjust to a new diet and lifestyle post-surgery.

• Trusted information on choosing a weight loss surgery that's best for you
• Advice on what to expect before, during, and after surgery
• Sample recipes and information to ensure you're getting proper nutrition post-surgery